The Eye of Horus Tattoo Meaning and 105 Designs to Protect You

The Eye of Horus tattoo meaning is largely about protection and good health. However, there is a deeper significance to this symbol and tattoo.

Not only am I an art history buff, but I travel a lot as well. When I went to Egypt, I fell in love with its history and symbology. This is where I learned the true meaning of the Eye of Horus and all the different ways to design a tattoo around it.

Let's take a look at the Eye of Horus tattoos and their meanings.

What is the Meaning Behind the Eye of Horus Tattoo?

If you have been wanting to get the Eye of Horus tattoo, you are about to be blown away. There is far more to the Eye of Horus symbol than most people realize. Let's take a closer look.

The legend of the Eye of Horus begins in Ancient Egypt. I should warn you that there are a few different versions but I will tell you about the most recognized one.

According to Egyptian mythology, the story begins with Osiris, the God of the underworld, transition, resurrection, and regeneration. His parents were the Earth and Sky god. Osiris had three siblings - Isis, Seth, and Nephthys.

Osiris married Isis and had a son named Horus. Osiris ascended the throne but was soon overpowered by his brother Seth. Not only did Seth steal the throne and kill his brother, he cut up the body of Osiris into 14 different pieces and distributed the pieces across Ancient Egypt.

This was an especially heinous thing to do because according to Ancient Egyptian mythology, a royal's body needed to be properly embalmed and buried in the tombs of royals. If this didn't happen, the royal was unable to pass through the gates of the underworld.

Isis, Horus, Nephthys, and Anubis set out to find the various pieces of Osiris across Ancient Egypt and were eventually able to find thirteen pieces. Osiris was then able to pass through the gates of the underworld and eventually rule it.

The Ancient god Horus was able to defeat Seth at a later battle and claim his rightful place as ruler. However, Horus lost his eye during the battle. It is believed that Horus's eyes were restored by another God, thus making it a magical eye.

Horus was then idolized by the Ancient Egyptians with the Eye of Horus, an eye symbol. He is depicted with a falcon head and one eye as the morning star.

It is meant to represent the battle between good and evil as well as order and chaos. Due to this, the symbolic meaning of the Eye is that of prosperity and protection.

If you take a closer look at Egyptian culture, you will realize that the Horus symbol and the Horus tattoo is more than just a protective symbol.

The Ancient Egyptians were trailblazers in medicine and art. This is why the Eye of Horus holds more meaning than most people realize.

If you take a closer look at the Eye of Horus, you will notice that it is divided into six individual parts, known as the Heqat fractions. Each of these sections are considered unique symbols.

The fragments were each given numerical value - 1/2, 1/4, 1/8, 1/16, 1/32, and 1/64. It is also thought that each of the fractions are associated with a certain human sense. The 1/2 is believed to be the sense of smell, the 1/4 is sight, 1/8 is thought, the 1/16 is hearing, the 1/32 is taste, and 1/64 is touch.

This is one of the reasons that the Eye of Horus has been referred to as the the Eye of the Mind, the Third Eye, the Eye of the Truth or Insight, and the Eye of God Inside the Human Mind.

What is truly mind blowing, though, is that when the Eye of Horus is superimposed over images of the human brain, the fractions line up with the corresponding parts of the brain that control those senses.

Due to this, you can assign even greater meaning to the Eye of Horus. Yes, naturally, the Eye of Horus represents a ward against evil spirits. However, with its deep meaning and rich symbolism, it could be so much more.

Your Eye of Horus tattoo could be an artistic representation of humans and the human experience. It could also be a symbol of the brain - the reason each person is the way they are.

Eye of Horus vs. Eye of Ra

Now, before I move onto the various Eye of Horus tattoo ideas, I want to talk about the eye of Ra. The eye of Ra is associated with the Sun god Ra - the most powerful Egyptian god and can look very similar to the Eye of Horus.

However, unlike the eye of the sun god, Horus' eye is depicted as the left eye, while the eye of Ra is the right eye.

The main thing to be aware of is that the eye of Ra and the Eye of Horus tattoo have different meanings. Ra's eye is meant to see everything while the left eye of Horus conveys protection, good vs. evil, good health, and potentially the embodiment of human knowledge.

So, it is a good idea to make this distinction to your tattoo artist beforehand so that they don't make a mistake.

Eye of Horus Tattoos and Their Meanings

Here are the top Eye of Horus tattoo designs you can choose from, along with their meanings:

Traditional Eye of Horus Tattoos

Do you want a classic tattoo of the Horus eye tattoo? If so, you are likely after the original meaning of the Eye of Horus.

You might want your Eye of Horus tattoo to be a protective symbol and to act as a barrier against evil elements and even ill health, much like the evil eye.

Now, getting a traditional Eye of Horus tattoo design doesn't necessarily mean that you should believe in its magical powers. Rather, it simply implies that you only want to invite good luck and fortune with the Horus eye tattoo.

In this case, here are the Eye of Horus tattoos you can consider:

Eye of Ra and Eye of Horus Tattoos

Don't want to choose between the Eye of Ra and Eye of Horus tattoo? Well, that's not a problem, as you can simply include both eyes in your body art.

This is a great option if you like more of a balanced Eye of Horus tattoo. Combined, these symbols hold a great deal of meaning as well. It could be a depiction of human knowledge in its entirety.

After all, Ra is the all-seeing eye and as you can see, the Egyptians considered the Eye of Horus to relate to the mental and physical. Due to this, both symbols together create a more complete picture.

Here are the Eye of Horus tattoo designs that you can check out:

Egyptian Symbology and Eye of Horus Tattoos

If you love Egyptian mythology, history, and other symbols associated with the country, a simple Eye of Horus tattoo may not do for you.

If this is the case, you should consider an Eye of Horus tattoo that also includes plenty of other symbology. This can be any elements that you choose.

You can go for something simple like the Ankh symbol or pyramids. Or, go all out and include Anubis and various other Gods.

Here are some of the Eye of Horus tattoos that can serve as inspiration:

Artistic Eye of Horus Tattoos

There is no denying that the traditional Eye of Horus tattoo is beautiful. At the same time, this kind of Eye of Horus tattoo may not have all the meaning you want your tattoo to have.

If you feel like there is more to the Eye of Horus tattoo, you might want to get creative with it.

The great thing about a creative Eye of Horus tattoo is that there are no limitations to what you can create. You can stick to the more traditional tattoo template or go all out - the choice is up to you!

Check out these Eye of Horus tattoos to find out what you can do with this tattoo idea:

Is It Okay to Tattoo the Eye of Horus?

The answer to this question can depend on where you live as well as the parts of the world you are planning on visiting.

To some people in Egypt, the Eye of Horus is a sacred symbol. You will find it on amulets to ward off spirits and illness. Therefore, if you live in or near Egypt or plan on visiting it one day, you may want to be careful about getting this tattoo.

It is best to wait until after your trip or to get it on a part of your body where the tattoo will not be highly visible.

You should also be careful about the tattoo placement. Try to keep it on your torso as this shows a greater sign of respect.

What Does the Eye of Horus Protect Against?

The Eye of Horus is meant to protect against evil spirits. At the same time, it is also supposed to ward off illness. It may also be used to induce good health.

Why Do People Get Eye of Ra Tattoo?

People can get the eye of Ra tattoo for many reasons. This could be as a way to see more than just what it is in front of them. It could also be a sign of looking for deeper meanings.

It could even be used to watch your back or to keep an eye on everything going on around you.

There is quite a lot of significance surrounding the Eye of Horus tattoo. Now that you are aware of what they are, you can proceed with finding the right tattoo design.